Topic by cakemog

  • Avatar
  • cakemog
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 20-10-2012
  • Posts: 7

Topic: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

Hi, I'm new to PianoTeq and have recently installed 4.2 on my desktop PC with no problems at all (love it). I play a Roland RD700 via MIDI cable straight into my MOTU 828 Mk 2 and Sonar 8.5 with PianoTeq loaded as a VST plugin.
Now - in order to avoid having to switch on my desktop PC just for piano practice, I have just purchased a MAC Book Pro with i5 processor and 4 Gb RAM. Installed the standalone version of PianoTeq 4.2 and connected a new MIDI to USB lead between the RD700 and the MAC - I have sound ok but the notes I play are repeating strangely and sticking, and my pedal produces a note too???? Can't figure out what's wrong?? Help would be much appreciated!! Carl

Reply by cakemog

  • Avatar
  • cakemog
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 20-10-2012
  • Posts: 7

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

I forgot to mention that I can play back the demo material within 4.2 and everything plays back normal, pedals and keys on the UI behaving normally along with the performance - the only problem is the peculiar repeating and sticking of notes when I play the RD700 and the note that sounds when the pedal is depressed. None of this occurs on my desktop PC system (using standard MIDI cable) - I am using a dedicated MIDI to USB cable, USB end into the MAC Book and the MIDI IN & OUT plugged into the the RD700.
Hope someone can put me right on this - Carl

Reply by sebion

  • Avatar
  • sebion
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 01-07-2011
  • Posts: 111

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

If I understand you right you use a different midi interface for your PC?
what midi interface are you using with your mac? is it a class compliant usb device or do you need a proprietary driver for it? did you test the MOTO with your mac?

DIY digital piano on salvaged piano action with homemade optical sensor bar: http://sebion.wordpress.com

sebion's Website

Reply by cakemog

  • Avatar
  • cakemog
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 20-10-2012
  • Posts: 7

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

Hi Sebion, many thanks for your reply - I'm a bit lost here not being a techy guy. The combined USB/MIDI IN OUT cable I have connected  between my RD700 kb and the MAC Book Pro is here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TECHNOPRO%C2%AE...amp;sr=8-5

It's just a cheap cable with a small box in the middle with in/out lights on it - USB one end (into the MAC) and MIDI IN & OUT both into their respective sockets on the RD700. I assume the little box in the middle of the cable IS my MIDI interface and it shows up in the MAC's 'Audio & Midi Devices' folder in 'MIDI Studio' as a USB2-MIDI icon - I have tried to highlight the icon, clicked Rescan MIDI and Test Setup but I can't seem to make any progress from there. The notes from my RD700 kb are still jumbled up like they have an echo on them, the sustain pedal still produces a loud audible note, the keys on the UI stick in their down positions!! Getting a headache trying to figure this out - but there's probably a simple answer, any ideas Sebion?? Thanks for trying for me!! Carl

Reply by sebion

  • Avatar
  • sebion
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 01-07-2011
  • Posts: 111

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

Hi again,

I've figured out your TECHNOPRO adapter beeing a class compliant device, so there's nothing you can do about the driver, which should not be causing the issue.

Please try the following things an report back:
- connect only the midi out jack of your keyboard to the midi interface and see if that changes anything
- if your mac book is running on battery would that change anything?
- try using the TECHNOPRO adapter with your PC, does it have the same issue there?
- try using your MOTU 828 Mk 2 with the mac, does it work?

does your keyboard have a usb port?

DIY digital piano on salvaged piano action with homemade optical sensor bar: http://sebion.wordpress.com

sebion's Website

Reply by cakemog

  • Avatar
  • cakemog
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 20-10-2012
  • Posts: 7

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

Sebion - my kb does not have a usb port, too old. My setup is such that I can't easily swap things around like plugging the MOTU 828 between kb and MAC. I know the audio side is working fine so this is clearly a MIDI problem - I suspect the cheap USB MIDI cable/interface/driver is the problem and I have already spent too much time and energy on this. So I'll get a better MIDI low latency interface and hope that'll get me up and running - will let you know how I get on.
BIG thanks for your effort to help - speak later in the week. Best regards, Carl

Reply by cakemog

  • Avatar
  • cakemog
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 20-10-2012
  • Posts: 7

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

Hi again Sebion - PROBLEM SOLVED. I bought 2 MIDI Interfaces (thank goodness) -
1. The Cakewalk/Roland UM-2G who's MAC driver would not install or show up in MIDI Devices, and
2. The Icon CUBE Mi3 which worked the moment I connected it, no hassle of any kind - the driver loaded automatically when I connected the USB cable and PT4 is GREAT on the MacBook Pro, around 17% CPU load MAX when playing as many notes as I can manage!
Both of these are around £45-£50 - I'll keep the UM-2G as a spare and will look into the driver issue.
The Icon is a bigger box - but hey, if it works instantly on connection there's no contest!!
So, I'm chuffed to be up and running on the Mac - thanks again for connecting with me when I was struggling Sebion. Best regards, Carl

Reply by sebion

  • Avatar
  • sebion
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 01-07-2011
  • Posts: 111

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

thank you for reporting back. I'm glad you found a well working sollution for your problem. I'm always happy to help

regards,
Sebastian

DIY digital piano on salvaged piano action with homemade optical sensor bar: http://sebion.wordpress.com

sebion's Website

Reply by cakemog

  • Avatar
  • cakemog
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 20-10-2012
  • Posts: 7

Re: PianoTeq 4.2 - notes repeating & sticking

IN CASE ANYONE OUT THERE IS STRUGGLING (as I did) with the Cakewalk/Roland UM-2G MIDI Interface - the Owner's Manual says under MacIntosh Users:
'MIDI Device Settings' 1. Set the UM-2G's Advanced Driver switch to the ON position

After struggling for hours/days to discover why the driver had not installed & located itself in MIDI Devices, I thought today I'd try to turn the above Advanced Driver switch to OFF

Guess what - the driver immediately showed up in MIDI Devices and the UM-2G is working fine - looks like a misprint or an error in the manual?? No need to install the driver from the CD, 'standard OS-based driver mode for instant connection to computers even when drivers are not available' is supposed to be a feature of this product - as long as you remember the Advanced Driver switch setting!!! Carl